Pasadena In FocusMay - June 2010

Are You Weathering the Weather?

Pasadena switched to a warm-weather watering schedule and restrictions on April 1. Through Oct. 31 you can water three days each week – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m., but experts recommend you monitor the weather carefully and gradually acclimate your plants and turf to a more frequent schedule. Making a drastic switch from the one-day-a-week, cold-weather schedule can shock plants and weaken their natural ability to adapt to weather changes. Reserve the three-day schedule for peak warm weather, typically in July and August.

If you aren’t a weather watcher, let a weather-based irrigation controller stand in for you! These “smart” controllers are programmed to be sensitive to your plants’ needs and weather pattern changes, turning on your sprinkler system only when needed and saving thousands of gallons each year. Apply for a $150 rebate on these smart devices at www.cityofpasadena.net/savewater.